WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION
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RA I TROPICAL CYCLONE COMMITTEE FOR THE
SOUTH-WEST INDIAN OCEAN
TWENTY-FIRST SESSION
RA 1/TCC-21/Doc. 8.2
(26. VIII.2015)
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ITEM 8.2
SAINT DENIS, LA REUNION,
28 SEPTEMBER TO 2 OCTOBER 2015
ENGLISH ONLY
LINKAGE WITH THE WMO REGIONAL PROJECTS
Storm Surge Advisory Arrangement
(Submitted by the Secretariat)
Summary and Purpose of Document
This document will report on the progresses of and present issues related to
the Storm Surge Watch Scheme (SSWS), including the Coastal Inundation
Forecast Demonstration Project (CIFDP).
ACTION PROPOSED
The Tropical Cyclone Committee (RA I) is invited to note the progresses of Storm
Surge Watch Scheme and comment on the proposed activities to be carried out to improve the
storm surge forecasting and CIFDP activities in the Committee region.
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RA I/TCC-21/Doc. 8.2, p. 2
1.
Upon request by the Sixtieth session of WMO Executive Council (June 2008) to facilitate
the development of storm surge watch schemes (SSWS) for regions subject to tropical cyclones,
and to regional associations concerned to incorporate such schemes in the tropical cyclone
advisory and in the TCP Regional Operating Plans and/or Manual, WMO has initiated, through the
joint efforts of TCP and JCOMM, the development of such schemes in regions subjected to tropical
cyclones. The English version of the first edition of the JCOMM Guide to Storm Surge Forecasting
was published in 2011, and its dynamic part is at: www.jcomm.info/SSGuide .
2.
With a view to improving safety-related services for the community, JCOMM and WMO
Commission for Hydrology (CHy) initiated Coastal Inundation Forecasting Demonstration Project
(CIFDP) to meet the challenges of coastal communities’ safety and socio-economic sustainability
through the development of coastal inundation forecasting and warning systems at the regional
scale. In the System Development phase, Storm Surge prediction and forecasting is an integral
component for the integrated forecasting system. Currently, there are 4 sub-projects implemented
in Bangladesh, the Caribbean, Indonesia, and Fiji at different development stages. Details can be
found at http://jcomm.info/CIFDP.
3.
In addition, Marine Meteorology and Oceanography Programme (MMOP) through JCOMM
conducted several technical Capacity Development activities in coastal hazards forecasting and
warning, including storm surge forecasting. For example, the Thirteenth International Workshop on
Wave Hindcasting and Forecasting and Fourth Coastal Hazards Symposium was held in Banff,
Alberta, Canada – October 27 - November 1, 2013. On that occasion, Storm Surge Forecasting
was extensively discussed including theoretical, numerical, or operational applications dealing with
storm surge modelling and forecasting, especially inundation modelling, and including the use of
satellite products. The eSurge Training course in Applying Earth Observation Data to Storm Surge
Modelling & Forecasting was held in Cork, Ireland on February 20th and 21st, 2014.
4.
Later this year, the Second JCOMM Scientific Symposium on Storm Surge will take place in
Key West, USA (8-13 November 2015). This dedicated Symposium will provide a forum for new
ideas and advances related to storm surge modelling and forecasting, and fully-integrated coastal
warning systems. Recommendations and developments from the meeting will be reviewed,
consulted, and adopted by JCOMM Expert Team on Waves and Coastal Hazards Forecasting
Systems (ETWCH), as appropriate, and consequently to update current version of Guide to Storm
Surge Forecasting.
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